ALBANY -- To help residents avoid becoming victims of crime during the holiday season, Albany Police Department Chief John Proctor plans to offer advice and tips Saturday at an East Albany town hall meeting.

The appearance will be part of Ward I City Commissioner Jon Howard's monthly "Town Hall Meeting " series. Celebrating the holidays, people tend to let their guard down, Howard said. It is a prime time for scam artists, identity thieves, bank and credit card fraud thieves, burglars and motor vehicle thefts in the community, he added.

The meeting at 10 a.m Saturday at the East Albany Community Center, 1721 E. Oglethorpe Blvd., is open to everyone.